Mavi Garcia, double champion of Spain for the third consecutive year

Idoia Eraso also did a double in the U-23 category

BARCELONA, 25 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Balearic cyclist Mavi García (UAE Team ADQ) was proclaimed champion of Spain for the fourth time this Saturday, in a 136-kilometre day held in Mallorca, winning the double for the third consecutive year by also winning the time trial, while Idoia from Navarra Eraso (Laboral Kutxa) also won both tests in the U-23 category.

Ane Santesteban (Team BikeExchange) was the only one who fought for the race together with Mavi, but ended up deflating in the last section to lose the opportunity to get her third Spanish champion title, settling for seventh position. The podium was decided by sprinting and the fastest among the peloton was Sara Martín (Movistar), who got the silver ahead of Yurani Blanco (Laboral Kutxa).

After a frenetic start in Sant Llorenç, Ane Santesteban and Mavi García raised the pace on Camí de Sant Jordi to hunt down Mireia Benito (Massi-Tactic) and Sara Martín, the only ones capable of opening the distance with the peloton in the first kilometers. But the champion and runner-up of the last edition opened the gap by delivering in relays.

The Movistar team, the strongest with a good list of riders, tried to break control of Mavi, who got rid of Santesteban by taking advantage of his gearbox problems and asking for assistance from the neutral car.

The ascent to Coll de Sa Creu determined the superiority of the reigning Spanish champion and increased her income by up to two minutes. The doubts of the chasing group grew and Mavi crowned the last pass through Palma with more than three minutes of advantage, to caress her fourth title of champion of Spain in line.

"It was very special. I wanted to win and I was willing to wear everything I had. There were a lot of attacks at the beginning. Ane and I tried to control the race. I knew that on the climb there could be a cut. In the end it worked out well" , indicated the Balearic after a full weekend.

In the U-23 category, Idoia Eraso signed a sensational double for being the fastest. In the online test, the Navarrese was in ninth position, while Naia Amondarain was silver and Mireia Trias bronze.